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How to Say "café" in Spanish

The most common Spanish word for “café” is “bar” — use 'bar' when referring to a place that serves coffee, drinks, and often snacks, particularly common in Spain. It can sometimes overlap with the function of a pub or a casual eatery..

English → Spanish

bar

/bar//ˈbaɾ/

NounA1Informal
Use 'bar' when referring to a place that serves coffee, drinks, and often snacks, particularly common in Spain. It can sometimes overlap with the function of a pub or a casual eatery.
A friendly bartender standing behind a long wooden bar counter, serving a cup of coffee to a customer sitting on a red stool.

Examples

Quedamos en el bar de la esquina a las ocho.

Let's meet at the corner bar at eight.

En España, es normal desayunar en un bar.

In Spain, it's normal to have breakfast at a bar/café.

Pídele otra ronda al camarero que está en el bar.

Ask the waiter who is at the counter for another round.

Gender: It's a Masculine Noun

Even though it doesn't end in '-o', 'bar' is a masculine word. So, you always say 'el bar' (the bar) or 'un bar' (a bar).

Confusing 'bar' with 'barra'

Mistake: “Me senté en el bar para beber.”

Correction: Me senté en la barra para beber. (I sat at the counter to drink.) While the first sentence is okay ('I sat in the bar...'), if you mean the physical counter, you need to use 'la barra'.

café

NounA1Neutral
Use 'café' when you specifically mean a coffee shop or a café, a place primarily focused on serving coffee and pastries.

Examples

Nos vemos en el café de la esquina a las cinco.

See you at the corner café at five.

Bar vs. Café in Spain

The most common mistake is assuming 'café' is always the correct translation. In Spain, 'bar' is frequently used for places serving coffee and snacks, even if they don't serve alcohol. Consider the regional usage; 'bar' is very common for this purpose, especially for quick stops.

Related Translations

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